Gender-specific association of diet with the risk of loss of muscle mass in Korean baby boomers: a prospective population-based cohort analysis.

Abstract

Background/objectives: Our study aimed to investigate the association of food group intake and the quality of diet with the risk of loss of muscle mass in Korean baby boomers using a large-scale national cohort data.

Subjects/methods: The study included 1,280 Korean baby boomers (609 men and 671 women) who were born between 1955 and 1963 and who participated in the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study from 2001 to 2018. A validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire was used to assess dietary intake. The Korean Healthy Eating Index (K-HEI) and the Mediterranean-Type Diet scores helped to evaluate the quality of the diet. Bioelectrical impedance analysis at baseline and during follow-up visits was used to measure the total muscle mass. Muscle loss was defined as a ≥ 5% decrease in total muscle mass over 2 yrs. This prospective cohort study had a mean follow-up duration of 12.7 yrs. Cox proportional hazards model was used to estimate the hazard ratio for muscle loss on the basis of the levels of dietary variables.

Results: In men, high grain intake was significantly associated with an increased risk of muscle loss (P for trend = 0.023). In women, a high intake of dairy products was associated with a reduced risk of muscle loss (P for trend = 0.021). Additionally, higher fruit intake and K-HEI scores were inversely associated with muscle loss when adjusted only for age and total energy intake.

Conclusion: Our study demonstrates gender-specific associations of diet with the loss of muscle mass in the Korean baby boomers. Although high grain intake may increase the risk of loss of muscle mass in men, high dairy intake may provide protective effects in women. These findings emphasize the need for targeted dietary strategies to prevent age-related muscle loss.